A Charles Sturt University (CSU) expert believes there are
mixed results for regional Australia in the proposal to cut Sunday penalty
rates for some weekend workers.

CSU Professor of Economics and expert in labour economics,
John Hicks, said the recent review by the Fair Work Commission into penalty
rates in hospitality and retail awards has found the impact of working on
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays has decreased in recent years.

"This led to one Commission recommendation to cut Sunday
penalty rates over time," said Professor Hicks, a senior researcher with the
University's Institute
for Land, Water and Society.

"Penalty rates were instigated to compensate employees for
working outside of 'normal work hours'. But these days, what are these hours?"

Professor Hicks believes the decision may result in an
increase in trading hours, higher levels of staffing and improved service and
an expanded range and types of services provided in the hospitality and retail
industry in regional Australia.

"This will be an advantage for regional economies that partially
depend on tourism. It will also be a boon for workers looking for work in these
communities, such as school leavers and university students," he said.

"However, workers currently in jobs under the affected awards
will receive less income. This is why the Commission has recommended
appropriate transitional arrangements to lessen the blow."

Professor Hicks acknowledged that not all workers in these
industries are employed under the effected awards.

"Many are employed on the basis of enterprise bargaining agreements.
Generally, employers and workers believe these agreements offer superior
employment conditions - otherwise they would not be used - and it is unlikely
that the decision will impact on these employment relationships."

The CSU academic recognises that individual workers and
individual employers will differ significantly in their opinion of what
constitutes a preferable working arrangement.

"When workers and employers can negotiate employment
outcomes the result is likely to be acceptable to both parties.

"When they are constrained by an award, some workers and
some employers will be disadvantaged by the decision. Industry-wide awards
cannot provide for all possible outcomes that might be agreed by workers and
their employers, so this will be a difficult process," Professor Hicks
concluded.